Indonesian villagers from Torajan ethnic group in South Sulawesi keep the dead bodies of their loved ones for few weeks and in some occasions for months before they burry them in a coffin and then they are exhumed at Ma’nene festival.
They display their dead ancestors after dressing them up with new clothes, make up and fragrances. They believe it is a way to show their love and respect for their ancestors.
The ceremony of cleaning and meeting with corpses is centuries old and is held at every three years. As the decomposing of human body requires at least 8-12 years the corpses in first two Ma’nene festival looks almost living but then they become just skeleton but even that doesn’t stops their loved ones from participating in the festival.
Usually people are remembered till their third generations after which their place is taken by other members of family.